NinjaFang1331: Thank you, I do try to make ever moment good, I might not succeed all the time but I try

UnseenUrge: You are welcome and I will try to update more.

Chapter 14 Another problem

Tatsumi, Wave and Run were all kneeling down on the ground with lumps on their heads with Kurome lurking over them with a brom. "Perverts."

Tatsumi got a tick mark on his head, "How the hell are we perverts? We came running cause we heard a scream, we didn't do any of this on purpose."

"You peaked at Seryuu while she was indecent," said Kurome as she then pointed the brom at Tatsumi, "Thuse that makes you a pervert."

Tatsumi began to get annoyed by this whole situation and was about to make a retort but Run cut him off, "Um may I ask, how did Seryuu become naked in the first place?"

The room went silent as Kurome tried her best to look away. "Wait a minute…" said Tatsumi as he began to piece the situation together.

"No way," said Wave quickly, "Kurome wouldn't strip one of her own teammates."

Kurome was silent before saying, "She asked for it."

All three men had the same reaction, "Huh?"

"I DIDN'T ASKED FOR IT!" Yelled Seryuu as she came back into the room being supported by Bols, wearing a baggy shirt and pants with a massive jacket draped over her shoulders that she used to help cover herself. "I didn't know this would happen."

Esdeath then soon walked back into the room, "Okay, now that all of us are here, can someone please explain to me what exactly happened while I left to get some reports."

Kurome started to sweat a little and stared right at Seryuu. Seryuu took a deep breath, "Okay so while I admit I didn't ask to be exposed in front of the team, but I thought Kurome's new healing ability could help me out and convince general Esdeath to allow me to keep some of my augments that Dr. Stylish gave me so I asked her if we could practice using her healing to keep me at one hundred percent while I fight and Kurome said sure and well when she did…" Seryuu went silent and raised her arms out of the jacket showing her very flesh and natural arms. "It worked a little too well."

"It healed your body completely!" as Esdeath realized what had happened,

Run then followed as a quick glance to the floors saw Seryuu's artificial arms broken on the ground. "I see so when Kurome healed you it forced all of your augments out of your body including that bomb that was in your head."

"The same bomb I told you to deactivate." said Esdeath as she gave a very cold glare at Dr. Stylish.

Seryuu then tried to stand but it was difficult as she hadn't used her real limbs in a while. Though she still tried to make excuses for the doctor but it was all back noise to Tatsumi. 'How the hell did Kurome heal her to this extent, she just got the ability, there's no way she should be able to do that with no form of backlash.' he thought as he looked at Seryuu with Go and saw that Seryuu was leaking a constant stream of nen but it wasn't much but it was constantly leaking at a solid pace. 'Wait a minute, is that Seryuu's nen or did it come from somewhere else?'

As Tatsumi was wondering about this the conversation was moving along. "I'm sorry General Esdeath, I just didn't want all the work the doctor did for me to go to waste."

Dr. Stylish gave Seruu a big smile, "Don't worry Seryuu, this just me we can start over. I can think of bigger and newer upgrades for you." he then began to walk towards the girl, "Don't worry I'll schedule your surgery immediately and we'll get rid of those limbs and up-" Stylish was unable to finish the sentence as Koro jumped and punched him in the face hard enough to send him flying across the room.

"KORO!" yelled Seryuu as she tried once more to stand but had to be caught by Bols. Soon everyone was on their feet and on edge as they stared at the Teigu.

"What the hell?" asked Wave, confused as he had his blade out ready to dawn his armor.

"Why did it attack?" asked Run

'It was protecting Seryuu.' thought Tatsumi.

"That…little.." Everyone looked to see Stylish struggling to pick himself up while staring daggers at Koro. "Teigu or not I'll turn you into a throw rug."

"She can't be strong with your toys…" The room became incredibly cold incredibly quickly and for once it wasn't Esdeath's doing. What caused it was the new voice coming from Koro. "She can only become strong with nen." said the Teigu with a wild smile.

'Just as I thought,' as Tatsumi looked at Koro. 'Koro must have fed the nen it had been trying to store to Seryuu while she was being healed by Yatsufusa to heal her completely and restore her back to the way she was.'

Esdeath quickly knelt down to Koro. "What is nen exactly, how does one learn about it?" she asked though Koro couldn't give a response as koro's face turned back to its neutral dumb expression and fell back on its back. "Hey answer me!"shouted Esdeath as she grabbed the teigu and began shaking it but got no response.

Tatsumi quietly let out a sigh of relief, 'It ran out of nen before it could say anything. Lucky, it would have been a nightmare if they got any more hints about nen.'

"Dammit!" yelled Esdeath as she tossed Koro to the ground.

Seryuu quickly tried to move forward to Koro but managed to fumble to the ground and grab him and turn him to look at her. "Koro…what do you mean…" she asked as she looked directly into the Teigu's eyes but got no response.

"Nonsense," said Stylish under his breath. "That thing has no idea what's it's talking about. My inventions are art. Stylish art, that things was talking nothing but nonsense. Toys….bah, it would know a toy if one had hit him right in the head."

"Enough," said Esdeath in a chilling voice she then looked at Seryuu before bending down and helping the girl to her feet. When Seryuu was on her feet she held Koro in her arms looking nervous. For some reason Esdeath raised her hand and placed it on Koro's head which confused Seryuu. "Dr. Stylish, Seryuu, as of this moment I am forbidding any body augmentations on Seryuu, am I clear?" she asked with a cold glare that made it clear that it wasn't a request, it was an order that was punishable by death. The two while wanting to protest they knew it wouldn't work and quickly agreed with their general. "Good, I'm not entirely sure what's going on with this teigu but it has knowledge we need to unlock, so for the time being we are going to do as it says."

Seryuu was nervous and had to ask, "but what about me? I can't fight like this I'm useless like this."

Esdeath smiled and removed her hand from Koro's head before placing it on Seryuu's head, "Don't worry Seryuu, you are still a member of this team and from now on I will be the one to train you personally."

Seryuu looked up at Esdeath with hope in her eyes, "Really?"

"Yes really," said Esdeath before removing her hand, "though we can work on that tomorrow, I know it's early but we've had quite the eventful day, I think it would be best if we turned in for the night, we can start bright and early in morning."

"Yes ma'am," said the group as they separated for the night, as Seryuu uneasily walked away with Koro in hand back to her quarters she failed to notice Koro's eyes were locked on to Esdeath's as she walked out of sight.

~o~

Soon after the Jaguars went their separate ways, Tatsumi found himself in Esdeath room sitting at Esdeath private table thinking, 'What is going on with me…I've been here for two days going on three, I've had several chances to get the hell out of here….so why haven't I? It's not just me trying to get intel, it's something else….I know it is, but I've checked every single person here and none of them have nen or anything that can manipulate me at all. The only signs of nen release since I got here was Koro helping to heal Seryuu and that wasn't even aimed at me. So why am I still here…maybe it has something to do with Prime Minister Honest…or the Emperor….or is it just because I'm horny.' he thought as he felt Esdeath right behind him as she wrapped her silky white arms around.

"Is something wrong, my love?" she asked "You haven't even touched your food."

"Food?" Tatsumi then blinked and realized while he was lost in thought that she brought food for him. "Oh I'm sorry," he said quickly as he quickly grabbed his silverware and began to eat.

"Don't worry it's still warm." Esdeath then walked to the other side of the table causing Tatsumi to stop eating for a moment as he realized that she was wearing nothing but her bra and panties.

'Yep I might just be horny.' He thought as he looked at her amazing body. He quickly then shook his head, "Sorry, it's just I'm starting to realize I've been kind of screwing with your team maybe a little too much."

"Nonsense," she said quickly. "You have given us valuable data and resources. You've unlocked a calvary power in Wave and a healing power in Kurome. These will become great assets to our team and by extension the empire."

"Yeah the Empire," repeated Tatsumi before he stopped eating for a moment, "Esdeath why are you with the Empire? What do you get out of this?"

Esdeath blinked for a moment, "Hmm I'm a little surprised that you'd ask that. It's quite obvious the Empire is strong. It also gives me the chance to get stronger and prove my strength. It gives me several chances to fight and to get stronger myself and so will you."

'Yeah right,' thought Tatsumi before tilting his head slightly and putting a confused look on his face, "Then why are you here with the Empire? Shouldn't you be traveling like am, I've met and seen a lot of strong people along my travels, some that are way stronger than me, and even though I haven't seen you in a fight I'm sure some of them could give you a run for your money."

That surprised Esdeath, "Really….hmmm…. It is correct that you haven't seen me fight but you do have a great eye for battle and weapons so I'll take your word. Though I doubt many of them are actually strong, I've heard several stories of people that are supposedly strong but it turns out to be fake. Most of them are actually weaklings that have tall tales because they saved a few people here and there, nothing but the actions of the weak."

"Huh?" said Tatsumi as his face became confused once again, "But shouldn't you be doing that?"

Esdeath raised an eyebrow, "Why on earth would I bother helping those who are weaker than me, the only thing the weak deserve is to die."

"Huh?" repeated Tatsumi which just confused Esdeath, "But wouldn't that just prove how much stronger you are. I mean if you win a battle without getting hit it proves you're strong for a person but if you win a battle while also keeping those who are clearly weak from getting hit once, doesn't that prove that your strength is equal to that of more people and wouldn't a crutch like that just make you stronger in the long run."

Esdeath was silent for a moment as she leaned back in her chair as she mulled over his words. That moment quickly became several as she replayed Tatsumi's words over and over in her head as she had an internal argument with herself.

By this time Tatsumi was able to finish his food and she was still thinking over his words. 'I guess she never thought of it like that, from what I can tell she grew up in a society that values strength, in any case I have some other questions that might give me more of an edge.' Tatsumi then cleared his throat getting her attention, "I can see I just asked a serious question for you but I have two more, why do you want to be so strong, is there a reason for you to try and be the strongest?"

Esdeath smiled, "Of course, I wish to be strong who wouldn't, "The strong survive and the weak die." Those are the words of my father and those are the words I live by. I will be strong and I will survive," Esdeath raised her hand towards Tatsumi, "with you by my side." What happened next Esdeath didn't see coming as Tatsumi broke out in a full blown laugh. Esdeath was dumbfounded as Tatsumi continued to laugh. "I'm sorry, what did I say that is so funny?"

Tatsumi slowly stopped laugh, "I'm sorry but that has to be the most shallowest thing I have ever heard," he said with complete honesty as he looked at Esdeath, "You know what I first met you I thought you were some seasoned warrior who knew so much of this world…but it has become increasingly clear, that you are just a young woman that has no idea what the world is like and I suspect has no idea that she's being used."

As Tatsumi spoke Esdeath expression became more and more cold as she glared at Tatsumi who was unaffected by her gaze, "What do you mean?"

"My second question," as he reminded her that he had a second question. "As a blacksmith I am very well versed with tools and I've seen several people in the same line of work as me being used as such, so I have to ask…Esdeath are you sure you need the Empire or do they need you more?"

Esdeath could have easily answered that question, ever since she joined, she has been going from battle to battle constantly, hastening the civil war, she was no fool, she knew that the prime minister was using her to cause chaos so he could take control of the capitol. 'Am I a tool?' she had to ask herself, 'No, there is no way…right.' she began to doubt herself as Tatsumi's words echoed in her head, 'I know the world I have fought several battles and won, but I know nothing of common things such as love, I know everything about torturing someone, how to make it slow and to make it painful, but is that it?' She began to mull over everything she knew, from the time from her tribe to the time in the military. She wanted to say something. She wanted this conversation to end but something…something was stopping her and it was also making her think of what she had done. She shook her head, 'Why am I even thinking about this? I am a strong warrior, such questions shouldn't bother me.'

Inside Esdeath, the ice nen beast began to chuckle, "I must thank you Tatsumi. You've made it so much easier to control this woman." said Frost. "You are not the first to bring such questions up to her, but when everyone else asked them it fell on deaf ears, but she actually listens to you causing cracks in her own mental state. I guess the power of love does hold some ground after all." Frost then let out some nen, "Time to steer this bitch, you better keep up your end of the bargain."

Suddenly Esdeath felt something pull inside her as a sharp pain stung her chest. 'What is this feeling….I don't understand…why am I feeling this….' Esdeath asked herself.

Tatsumi's face then turned into shock. "Es…Esdetath…"

"Eh?" Esdeath then understood Tatsumi's shock as she felt a single tear roll down her face. She put a hand up to her face and took one of her tears into her hand, 'This…is a …tear? Am…I …crying? I've never cried before….But why? I never cried when my parents died or when any of my men died so why…why am I crying now.' Esdeath looked up at Tatsumi. "Why…why am I crying….am I weak?"

Tatsumi stood up and walked to otherside of the table and wrapped Esdeath in a hug, "No.. you are not," he said as she began to cry into his embrace, "You're human." As he held her close he felt her silent cries as she tried to stop but couldn't. 'She really is just a human born in a terrible place raised a curtain way. Maybe I can help her somehow.'

Though unbeknownst to them, standing in the room with them was an Incursion armor with Tyrant inside, 'Excellent work Frost.'

~o~

(A little while earlier)

"According to our insiders, the Jaegers have been doing some special training today," Said Lubbock as he read the report to the rest of the table at the Night Raid base, "Apparently they are doing some Teigu training that required taking over the whole coliseum. They have never used that place before for just Teigu training."

"It's Tatsumi," said Sayo, earning shocked looks from around the table, "Tatsumi is a blacksmith and a weapon fanatic. He probably is testing out their Teigu to see their limits."

"So he's doing recon for us?" asked Mine.

"I still don't like it," said Leone, "Tatsumi is strong so why is he still there?"

"It might be that strange guy that caused you and Sayo to fall asleep." said Sheele, "He might still be there after Tatsumi."

"That could also be a problem," said Leone as began to get angry, "If I ever find that bastard."

"We need to do something," said Akame, "Tatsumi is trapped behind enemy lines along with a third party that isn't lined with the capital that knows nen, we have to do something."

Bulat then stood up, "All of you stay here, I'll be back by midnight. With Incursion, I'll infiltrate the castle and find Tatsumi."

~o~

Bulat landed at the castle garden invisible thanks to the Incursion armor. 'I'm in the castle, hehe this would have been impossible earlier but now it's easier than ever with nen. Now I just need to find a good hiding spot for a second.' He then came across some thick bushes. 'This should be good, I just need a minute to turn visible to make my Hollow Nen armor. Three nen armor should do.' He thought as he sat down in a meditative position and became visible for a few moments. He closed his eyes and then a minute later stood three semi transparent Incursion armors. "Not bad, I think I'm getting better at this. Okay let's split up and search the castle." All three armors nodded and turned completely invisible and went into separate directions. When all three were out of range Bulat turned invisible once more. 'I'm worried about Tatsumi but this is a chance I can't waste here. I've asked Najenda after we learned nen if I can infiltrate the castle but she said that we shouldn't push it since we had just learned nen and she's right, that fight with Esdeath proved that even with nen we can still lose, I won't fight anyone but I will learn as much as I can.' as he left to find the office of the prime minister.

Thought without his knowledge Bulat had made a fourth nen armor that watched him and the other armors leave, "Hehehe I must thank you Bulat," said Tyrant inside the fourth armor, "Even though your nen output is shit compared to Tatsumi's, this ability of yours is very convenient for me."

Tyrant then turned invisible and made his way through the castle, into Esdeath room and saw a very interesting sight, Tatsumi hugging a crying Esdeath. 'Excellent work Frost.' Thought Tyrant as he moved behind Tatsumi and raised his hand behind him causing a thin line of nen to be pulled from Tatsumi. 'Ah now this is nen, with this I can make our connection last even longer.' Thought Tyrant.

'Tyrant can you hear me?' asked Frost.

'I'm here Frost, keep them still for a moment longer, I'm almost done getting enough nen to make the connection permanent."

"You might need a bit more than that," said Frost as she made Esdeath hold Tatsumi longer, "We have a problem."

Tyrant did not want to hear that, "What kind of problem?"

"A nen beast that stuck inside of a stuffed animal kind."

Tyrant was silent for a moment, "What the fuck."

Tatsumi blinked for a second, "What was that?"

Esdeath looked up at Tatsumi with red eyes, "What was what Tatsumi?"

"Uh nothing, I just thought I heard something is all." said Tatsumi as he helped Esdeath up, "Come on let's turn off the lights and go to bed."

"Hhmm," Esdeath nodded and quickly followed Tatsumi to the bed.

Tyrant stood in place until both were in the bed together and the lights were off, 'Frost can you make them fall asleep faster.'

'I'm trying with Esdeath, but nice going lizard brain, you almost blew your own cover.' said Frost.

"Ah shut up fish lips," said Tyrant, "I have enough nen to now to alter Tatsumi so we can get new bodies, but from the sounds of it, I have someone to talk to."

"Tell that dumb mutt to behave,' said Frost, "Also I'm all set on my end."

"Good, soon so will I and in the next year, we will have our own bodies again." said Tyrant.

"That sounds lovely," said Frost as Esdeath fell asleep, 'I just hope I don't inherit anything crazy from this woman."

~o~

Tyrant then continued to walk down the halls of the castle until he began to smell a familiar stench, 'The mutt must be nearby.' He then made it to one of the rooms where the door opened a crack.

The room was dimly lit by a single candle. Inside was Seryuu on the ground staring at Koro's unmoving form. "Why…why Koro, I don't understand I was plenty strong beforehand with all the upgrades the Doctor gave me, so why, why did you want me to not have them? Were you the reason I was healed this much, I felt something was that you. Why…Why….I'm weaker than ever now, so please tell me why." she reached out and grabbed Koro holding him in her shaking hands, "Please Koro tell me something, I know you can speak, so please talk to me…tell me why."

"You dumb brat, he can't say anything even if he wanted to."

Seryuu looked up and looked around, "Who said that?"

"A nen weapon can't function without sufficient nen, you stupid girl."

"Huh?" Seryuu then felt a hand wrapped around her throat and lift her in the air, 'What? An intruder? I can't breathe or speak.'

"It's been so long since I've felt the life of another in my hand. For years I've had to lend my strength to those pathetic Teigu users that don't know shit about nen, forced to watch as they used what little of my body was left to kill. It's so much different knowing that it is my own will that hold your life right here," said Tyrant as he began to feel true joy for the first time in years, "I used to stomp on you humans like it was nothing, so many died by my hands, my claws, my teeth, each one making me stronger. I took over a hundred nen users to bring me down."

Seryuu began to lash out as best she could but couldn't do much other then dangle her legs around, "K…Ko….ro…"

Tyrant growled and looked down at Koro, "I could kill you but this Empire would just throw men at him till he found some else and he wouldn't be happy. Damn it looks like my first kill will have to wait." as Tyrant brought a hand back and chopped Seryuu on the side of the neck causing her to lose consciousness instantly. After making sure she was unconscious Tyrant mindlessly tossed her back on her bed before moving towards Koro.

Tyrant bent down and placed a finger on Koro causing it to twitch. Koro's neutral face quickly began to snarl, "YOU BASTARD! YOU ALMOST KILLED HER!"

Tyrant quickly put a hand over Koro's mouth, "Yes I did and I can still kill her if necessary but I won't as long as you keep your damn mouth shut and listen for two damn seconds." Koro's face was still one of pure rage, "Let me remind you, I gave you nen and I still have plenty left to spare."

Koro was still angry but it's face became less angry and Tyrant loosened his grip on it's mouth, "What do you want you lizard bastard?"

"Good now I hear you've been causing trouble for a certain nen user."

"Tatsumi," said Koro, "I just need to eat him and his nen will be mine."

Tyrant chuckled, "You are still such a mindless beast, do you honestly think you can kill and consume Tatsumi in your current state. You wasted all of the nen you had gathered earlier today, correct."

That surprised Koro, "How do you know about that?"

"Frost told me."

"Frost!"

"Yes and thanks to Frost we have a way out of our prisons." said Tyrant, "One much better and faster than your plan to just wait and consume a nen user."

"How?" asked Koro.

"Tatsumi is a descendant of one of my original users, he can sire us a way out."

Koro was silent for a moment as his face turned into disgust, "You're shitting me, your way out is through his whores."

"You got a better way out?"

"Can't you just feed me one of his babies or something."

Tyrant gave Koro a deadpan look, "Seriously, one how long would that last and two it wouldn't change the fact that you're stuck in this stuffed animal."

"Yeah but.." he turned to the knocked out Seryuu, "From inside them…"

"Oh come on you must like the girl enough if you want to protect her." said Tyrant.

"She's just the first one of my users to run into a nen user," said Koro, "And before hand my parents were proud King Mountain Hounds, not a weird human girl with an obsession for justice."

Tyrant was getting annoyed, "Look I don't have much time, either accept and let me help you make a nen connection with this brat or I'm leaving."

Koro hated the idea but couldn't think of anything better. "Okay fine. Help me out."

"And.."

"And I won't try to eat…my future father." said Koro but the words burned in his mouth. "Now will you help me before I puke."

Tyrant picked up Koro and placed him on top of Seryuu, "Happily."

~o~

Bulat found himself in the prime minister's personal office. 'Here we go,' thought Bulat, 'Now I know where all the secret capitol bases are, the secret prisons and the names of all the spies in the revolutionary army. I even have a list of your favorite whores. You're a fool, Honest. I guess you never expected someone to be able to sneak all the way into the castle, you left all your notes out easy for anyone to see.' Bulat then turned to the door, 'Then again you did have quite a few locks on that door, I got to thank Lubbock and Akame for all those lock picking lessons.'

"So you must be a part of the revolutionary army, right."

Bulat froze and slowly turned around to see a man wearing a cloak standing against the wall. 'When did he get here, can he see me?'

The cloaked figure looked around the room, "I'm impressed, I can't even sense you with nen. Either that is your nen ability or you have excellent control of your Zetsu. I had no idea this country had nen users, but you are in this room right."

'He's a nen user! Though from what he just said, he can't sense me furthermore, it sounds like he's not from this country and not on their side.' Thought Bulat, 'Then does he not want to fight?'

"I'll just come out and say it, I wasn't aware of any nen users here, I thought this was a simple job and I want it to stay that way, so let me make it clear, you stay out of our way and we'll stay out of yours."

"We?" said Bulat under his breath.

"We."

~o~

Another cloaked figure made his way to the center of the castle, "Alright let's start the fireworks." The man then turned back as he heard a noise, "Ah you're here, are you excited to be home again?"

A lone figure stood behind him giving him a cold glare, "Let's get this over with, this place smells disgusting."

Next time: New Attackers | You want to read this now, just head over to my page. ~P-A-T-R-E-O-N~ Lorenzo the story teller. There you can read all chapters a head of time and my exclusive stories.

A/N: I have returned to this story. I have decided that this year I will write more and try to keep up to date with all of my stories wish me luck. Also look forward to the upcoming fights ahead. Nen warriors have arrived.

Patrons: | James Glenn Chandler | WildZappaS51 | Chao Landy | Trevor Coffey | Shelwyn | SIMON | Daniel Hinojosa

~Lorenzo the Story Teller.